12LTE1: NATURE

December 1, 2 – Medium, Medium

Animals in Winter

by Manya Cramer

 

 

December 1 – Medium

  Winter is cold. What do people do to stay warm? They go inside a house. But animals have different ways to survive cold weather. Penguins gather in big groups. When they are close to each other, they stay warm. Polar bears have thick fur to keep their bodies warm. Frogs go to sleep in winter. They hide under rocks or in the ground. Sometimes their bodies freeze! But when the weather gets warm again, they come back to life.

 

Conversation A

(in the office)

James: Hey, Susie. What are you doing?

Susie:  I’m reading a book about animals. A friend lent it to me.

James: Are you learning anything?

Susie:  Yes. It’s about animals in winter.

James: How do they stay warm? They don’t wear hats and boots!

Susie:  Ha, ha. Well, penguins gather together in big groups.

James: That’s a good way to keep warm.

Susie:  If you’re a penguin.

 

Conversation B

James: I don’t believe this!

Susie:  What?

James: Frogs survive cold weather by sleeping. Sometimes their bodies freeze!

Susie:  I know. Then they come back to life after winter.

James: I’d like to be able to do that!

Susie:  Really?

James: Wouldn’t you?

Susie:  No. I’d rather be like a polar bear. Their thick fur keeps them warm.

James: Their fur is like a thick, warm coat.

 

Questions

1. What sometimes happens to frogs in winter?

2. How do you stay warm in winter?

 

December 2 – Medium

  Some animals leave their homes in winter. They go to warmer places because they cannot survive cold weather. Many types of birds and butterflies move in winter for this reason. In autumn, they fly thousands of kilometers to warmer places. Some animals don’t move far away. They eat a lot and then find a nice place to sleep all winter. Mice don’t sleep, but they make their nests in warm places. Some bats hang upside down and sleep in dark places for the winter.

 

Conversation A

(in the Jungle Café)

Tina:    Hey, Matt! Guess what!

Matt:    What?

Tina:    I saw a butterfly outside!

Matt:    So?

Tina:    It’s December. Butterflies usually move somewhere else in winter.

Matt:    Because it gets so cold.

Tina:    Right! I didn’t expect to see one now. But it may not live long.

Matt:    Too bad. Why did it stay? Do you know the reason?

Tina:    I’m not really sure.

 

Conversation B

Matt:    Mice don’t move anywhere for the winter.

Tina:    No. They make their nests in warm places.

Matt:    That’s fine. But I don’t want them in my house!

Tina:    I don’t, either.

Matt:    What do bats do?

Tina:    They hang upside down in dark places and sleep.

Matt:    But they eat a lot first.

Tina:    Right. Bats can’t find many insects to eat in winter.

 

Questions

1. What do butterflies usually do?

2. Do you like bats? Why or why not?

 

Key Words

stay (v)

Kevin stayed safe during the storm.

warm (adj)

Tomorrow will be very warm.

survive (v)

The plant cannot survive without water.

group (n)

A group of children is in the park.

body (n)

Mary’s whole body hurts.

frog (n)

There’s a frog in the water.

move (v)

She moved from one place to another.

reason (n)

Henry had no reason to feel bad.

mouse (n)

A mouse is running around the room!

nest (n)

A bird made its nest in the tree.

bat (n)

Look at all the bats!

hang (v)

Their picture is hanging on our wall.

 

More Information

polar bear (n)

fur (n)

upside down (adv)

 

Use It

A friend . . . to me.

A friend gave the flowers to me.

A friend read the letter to me.

Write your own!

___________________________

 

Why did . . .?

Why did you walk to school?

Why did they leave so early?

Write your own!

__________________________